Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Saturday that China stands ready to cooperate closely with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in the prevention and control of avian influenza.

Speaking at the second-day meeting of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan, Hu said China will host the APEC Symposium on Emerging Infectious Disease in Beijing next April.

The avian influenza poses a challenge to the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large, Hu said. He urged APEC members to make joint efforts to cooperate closely to meet such a challenge.

Hu said China welcomes the APEC members to attend the APEC Symposium on Emerging Infectious Disease to strengthen regional cooperation in the area.

China attaches importance to the prevention and control of avian influenza and has adopted a series of effective measures including intensive vaccination, monitoring and quarantine, he said.

Hu said China attaches importance to international cooperation in natural disaster reduction and is actively involved in it.

"China stands ready to strengthen communication and cooperation with other APEC members and jointly enhance regional cooperation in disaster reduction," he said.

The Chinese president left Busan for Beijing on Saturday after the two-day APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting concluded with the adoption of the Busan Declaration, the Statement on Doha Development Agenda Negotiations, and the Statement on Preparing for and Mitigating an Influenza Pandemic.

Source: Xinhua